74. Department of State Press Release1
No. 532
In answer to questions as to the relationship between the Psychological Strategy Board, announced today by the President,2 and the Interdepartmental Committee which has been working in this field under the chairmanship of Mr. Edward W. Barrett, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, the following statement was issued by Under Secretary of State James E. Webb:
“By agreement with my two colleagues on the Psychological Strategy Board, I can state it is now planned that the Interdepartmental Committee which has been serving under the chairmanship of the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs will continue in existence with responsibility for coordinating the execution of United States foreign information programs under the name ‘Psychological Operations [Page 168] Coordinating Committee.’ This Committee, which has been serving in this field for the past year, includes representatives from the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Economic Cooperation Administration, and the Department of State.3
“Other activities in the Department of State will continue as presently organized under the broad guidance of the new Psychological Strategy Board announced by the President.”
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 63 D 351, NSC 59/1, Box 55. No classification marking.↩
- The President approved the Psychological Strategy Board on April 4; see Document 60. This press release made the President’s directive available to the public.↩
- Under Secretary of State Webb wrote Director of Central Intelligence Smith on May 2 informing him that this change was taking place, and asking that a CIA officer be made available to serve with the Psychological Operations Coordinating Committee. Smith replied in the affirmative in an undated letter. (Both in Central Intelligence Agency, History Staff, Job 83–00036R, Box 5)↩